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Greece bans New Year’s music at venues amid COVID surge

Greece

The restrictions in Greece, originally were planned to take effect on Jan. 3, will start early Thursday after the daily number of infections rocketed to nearly 22,000 Tuesday. Health Minister Thanos Plevris said during a livestreamed briefing, that omicron is now the dominant variant in terms of new infections. As reported by the AP:

Much about omicron remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness, as it grips Greece

Greece’s health minister said Wednesday that music will be banned at all commercial venues for New Year’s celebrations as part of new restrictions announced in response to a surge in COVID-19 infections fueled by the omicron variant.

A member of the medical staff at the National Public Health Organisation (EODY) conducts a COVID-19 rapid test on a man in Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. A government committee of medical experts hold an emergency meeting Wednesday to consider speeding up scheduled restrictions after the daily number of COVID-19 infections more than doubled in a day to set a new record. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The restrictions, originally planned to take effect on Jan. 3, will start early Thursday after the daily number of infections rocketed to nearly 22,000 Tuesday, more than double the record number reported the previous day.

A member of the medical staff at the National Public Health Organisation (EODY) conducts a COVID-19 rapid test on a girl in Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. A government committee of medical experts hold an emergency meeting Wednesday to consider speeding up scheduled restrictions after the daily number of COVID-19 infections more than doubled in a day to set a new record. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

“Omicron is now the dominant variant in terms of new infections,” Health Minister Thanos Plevris said during a livestreamed briefing.

Much about omicron remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness.

Included in Greece’s measures are the mandatory use of high-protection masks at supermarkets and on public transport, schedule changes and additional work-from-home orders for government employees, and strict capacity limits at sporting venues.

A member of the medical staff at the National Public Health Organisation (EODY) conducts a COVID-19 rapid test on a woman in Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. A government committee of medical experts hold an emergency meeting Wednesday to consider speeding up scheduled restrictions after the daily number of COVID-19 infections more than doubled in a day to set a new record. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Entertainment venues will close at midnight starting Thursday, but they will be allowed to stay open until 2 a.m. for New Year’s Eve.

Source AP

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